US President Donald Trump has said he will pull tariffs on whisk(e)y imports from the UK following the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
In a post on Truth Social yesterday (30 April), Trump said that "in honour" of the royals, he would be removing "tariffs and restrictions on whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the commonwealth of Kentucky on whiskey and Bourbon".
The UK Department for Business & Trade confirmed to Just Drinks that the move applies to all UK whisk(e)y products, including whiskey from Northern Ireland.
A statement from the US Trade Representative said the country "will allow preferential duty access for whiskey produced in the United Kingdom, along with preferential treatment for other American and British goods."
“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do,” Trump added in his social media post.
“People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.”
The removal of the 10% baseline tariff, which was implemented in April last year, has been welcomed by various industry bodies.
Chris Swonger, the president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), said the move was a “major victory” for the US hospitality industry.
“This action strengthens transatlantic ties, brings much needed certainty to our industry and allows spirits producers on both sides of the Atlantic to grow, invest and support jobs at a critical time.”
The American Whiskey Association also praised the decision, with CEO Michael Bilello calling it a “meaningful win for fair and reciprocal trade.”
“This decision recognises something our industry has long understood: American whiskey, Scotch whisky, UK whisky and Irish whiskey are connected through agriculture, craftsmanship, hospitality, tourism, trade, barrels - and friendship.”
"The barrel trade is central to that story," he added. "American white oak barrels that first mature bourbon and other American whiskeys often go on to help shape great whiskies around the world.
"When barriers come down, that entire ecosystem becomes stronger.”
Mark Kent, the CEO of Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), added: “For months, many have worked tirelessly to return zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon. The special relationship that the Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.”
Data released in February by the SWA showed that global shipments fell by 4% last year, with export volumes to the US plummeting more than 9% under the weight of the tariffs.
While the total value of global Scotch exports reached £5.36bn, the American market saw sales value decline 4% to £933m.
On the tariffs removal, Mark Kent, the CEO of the SWA, remarked that the industry had worked tirelessly to return to "zero-for-zero" tariff trade.
“The special relationship that the Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.”
Individual spirits companies have also welcomed the news today.
Nodjame Fouad, the CEO of Pernod Ricard's Gold Brand Unit which houses its aged spirits and Champagne, said: "This is a welcome progression, which will bring relief to industry on both sides of the Atlantic, supporting our teams and partners while reinforcing the importance of open and stable trade. We hope that both governments can move quickly to bring this into force.”
Ian Shackleton, a sales and brand director at Scottish business Ian Macleod Distillers said the move was "great news for our company and for the industry".
"We can now put behind us the saga and disruption caused by the uncertainty of the past year. As a small, family-owned producer with some world famous, multi-award-winning brands, the USA is a vital and growing marketplace for us. We have some excellent partners in North America and the freer we are to work with them, the better it is for all concerned."
